What is the basic unit of energy in the metric system?

The basic unit of energy in the metric system is the joule (J). The joule is defined as the amount of energy transferred when one newton of force is applied over a distance of one meter. It is a standard unit used in the field of physics and in various scientific applications to measure energy, work, and heat.

In the metric system, the joule serves as a fundamental unit of energy, allowing for consistency and clarity in measurements. Other units of energy, such as the calorie, are often used in specific contexts, such as nutrition or thermodynamics, but they are not the standard unit in the International System of Units (SI).

Additionally, the watt and volt are crucial units but pertain to power and electric potential, respectively, rather than energy itself. Thus, while watts measure energy per unit of time and volts measure electrical potential, they do not define energy as directly as the joule does.